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Doctors and Hospitals oppose Trump’s plan to remove Obamacare

The American Medical Association has opposed the House Republicans’ plan to replace the federal health care law enacted by the Obama administration.

17 Mar 2017

The American Medical Association has opposed the House Republicans’ plan to replace the federal health care law enacted by the Obama administration.

US President Donald Trump is insistent on replacing Obamacare, but the powerful lobby group representing American doctors announced on March 8 that it was against the Republican legislation.

The groups said it was concerned the bill “would result in millions of Americans losing coverage and benefits”.

The American Medical Association gave former President Barack Obama much-needed support to get his health care changes across the line in 2010.

Now the lobby group has written to the two House committees charged with drafting the Republicans’ bill, called the American Health Care Act, to condemn it.

“As you consider this legislation over the coming days and weeks, we hope that you will keep upmost in your mind the potentially life altering impact your decisions will have on millions of Americans who may see their public, individual or even employer-provided health care coverage changed or eliminated,” the group’s chief executive Dr James Madara wrote.

The doctors are mostly concerned that the potential new laws aim to replace the subsidies millions of low-income Americans were given under Obamacare.

A flat tax credit to be adjusted by a person’s age is instead proposed by the Republicans, but the doctors’ lobby is insisting that any credit must be enough to enable low-income earners to afford quality health cover.

The Association has been joined in its opposition to the bill by the American Hospital Association and all of the nation’s major hospitals.

The hospitals are concerned about planned changes to Medicaid – the US’s government insurance program for people with limited resources – which became more expansive and inclusive under Obamacare.

They said changes would result in cuts to health care services.

The hospitals also wrote to Congress expressing their concerns that the House committees were considering a draft legislative proposal that could lead to “tremendous instability” for people seeking affordable health coverage.

Republicans are keen to pass the bill quickly, but the Congressional Budget Office is still to provide figures for the new legislation, including how many people it would cover.